Slitting and fusing apparatus



July 31, 1956 D. N. JUDELSON su'r'rmc AND FUSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 8, 1954 W MS n WW Md United States Patent 7 SLITTING AND F USING David N. Judelson, New York, N. Y. Application February '8, 1954, Serial No, 403,816

'12 Claims. 164-39) The present invention relates to slitting or cutting apparatus, in particular to combined cutting and slitting means for producing strips or ribbons of predetermined width from a continuously moving layer of synthetic material. The invention is advantageous in its application to forming of synthetic fabrics and the like into plural strips or ribbons each having selvages fused to preclude raveling and fraying.

In strip-cutting machines resort has been made to cutting knives for slitting piece goods into strips and concurrently fusing the cut ends ,of the threads at the lateral margins of the strips to provide non-ravel selvages. However, the adaptation of well known cutting and slitting machines for this purpose, as by the addition of heating elements to the conventional knives presents many practical difli culties including imperfect cuts and discontinuity and noninformity in fusing of the selvages. Imperfect fusing is thought to be 'due to the tendency of the severed edges of the material to contract and move out of intimate contact with the heated knife during and after slitting.

Aside from these processing difiiculties, machine design and operational requirements may be frequently imposed which are prohibited from the standpoint of cost and/or efiicient plant operation. Heat-transfer to the conventional knives requires relatively high operating temperatures. This is often not feasible, especially when it is considered that there is a maximum temperature to which the components of any machine may be exposed without prohibitive expansion or contraction. Reduced speed at practical operating temperatures allows for required heating, but is incompatible with low running costs.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide slitting mechanisms obviating one or more of the aforesaid difiicu'lties. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the invention to provide material-processing apparatus of a design assuring continuous and uniform slitting of material into strips or ribbons and fusing of the marginal edges of the respective strips or ribbons.

It is a further object .of .the invention to provide heated strip-cutting apparatus which may be operated at relatively high speeds and within practical operating temperatures.

Certain objects of the invention are realized :by the provision of a combined cutting and fusing member in combination with a roller of a strip-cutting machine, the member being curved to conform ito the roller .and formed to include a leading cutting edge merging in o trailing fusing surfaces. Appropriate mean-snare in heat-transfer relation to the cutting and fusing member, the construction assuring reliability in the transfer of heat to :the ma terial during both the cutting and fusing intervals of the processingcycle.

In accordance with still further features and aspects of the invention, the aforesaid rentting and fusing member is incorporated in a fabric-slitting machine which includes guide means or members cooperating with a heated cutting roller to define a feedpath for bringing the fabric into contact with the roller, a @first section pf the feed 2,756,819 ,Ratented July 31 1956 2 path providing for preheating of the fabric by heat transe fr m t e u ting ol er, an a sec nd s c n f the f e pa h being a an d in confront ng r lat n to the cutting and fusing member. I This structure, among its many advantages, assures preheating of the fabric preliminary to the cutting and fusing cycle.

The above and still further objects, features, and ad: vantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, with parts in section, showing fabric cutting or slitting apparatus embodying features of the present inyention;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view, with parts sectioned and broken away for the purposes of clarity, taken substantially along the line 2.-'2 of ;1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; v

,Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a combined slitting and fusing member embodying features of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the combined member of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the combined cutting and fusing member illustrated in Fig. 3; and,

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing fabric during slitting in accordance with the presentinvention.

Referring now specific-ally to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 fabric slitting or cutting apparatus 10 including a frame 12 having upstanding sides 14,16. Adjacent to one end of the frame 12 and extending between the opposite sides 14, 16 is a master or feed roller 18 carrying material M adapted to be slit while passing a heat hardened and ground cutting roller 20 and delivered to duplex takeup shafts 22, 24, which may be of the spring-loaded type or of the friction-clutch type. Disposed laterally of the nonscoring or heathardened cutter contacting roller 20 are a pair of guide rollers or other appropriate means 26, 28, disposed in relation to :the cutting roller "20 to provide a guide path for the material during its passage about the cutting roller and assuring a substantial'ly4180" wrap. In advance of the leading guide roller 26 is an appropriate tensioning assembly 31), illustrated as .plural rollers defining sinuous runs for the material during :its passage from the main or master roller 18 toward the leading guide roller 26.

Extending between the opposite'sides 14, 16, of the frame 12 at location spaced below the non-scoring roller 2.0 is a crossbar '32 carrying plural .side-by-side spaced knife assemblies 34. As seen :best in Fig. 2, the knife assemblies :are adjustable laterally in relation .to each other such that the fabric passing over the non-scoring cutter-contacting roller :20 may be cut into any appropriate numberof strips each .of any required width. The respective knife assemblies .34 are substantial duplicates ,of each other and accordingly only one assembly will be described in det il. .As seen-best in Fig. l, the knife assembly .34 includes a mo ng bracket 3.6 having depending channel-forming pants 3.8., 40 adapted to be arranged :on opposite sides ,of't'he crossbar 32 and fixed in relation thereto by a set vscrew 42. Formed integrally i h a d ups anding fr m the brack t 36 is a standard 44 carrying a bell crank lever 46 or the like upon which is mounted the knife-supporting block 4,8,. The lever 46 is p voted inte m dia e i s en by the p v or P 50 and is ,biased in the eountereoloclswise vdirection by provision of a spring 52 such that the lrnifesu porting block 48 is constantly urged toward the cutter-contacting roller 20. The knife-suppo ing block :or base 48 is formed .of an appropriate heat cpnducting metal and carries th re ua ca tr dgeetype heater 4 at w ll k own constu t on hich may be conne ted t a y app op Ice source of potential on the support or block 48 in heattransfer relation and in close proximity to the cartridge 54, is a combined cut-ting and fusing member 56 which is detachably secured in place by appropriate screws 53 or the like.

Reference will now be made to Figs. 3 to inclusive wherein there is shown the details of the combined knife cutting and fusing member 56. The member is formed with an arcuate cutout 60 terminating in a face formed complementary to the cutter-contactingroller 20. Merging into the .curved surface 60 are beveled fabric-engaging surfaces 62, 64, which are arranged in convergent relation to each other. The fabric-engaging surfaces 62,

merge into the face 60 at meeting edges 62a, 64a seen in Figs. 4 and 5 to be substantially coextensive along a first arcuate traverse or run to define a slitting means or cutting edge 66, and diverging along a second arcuate traverse or run to define wedge-like fusing surfaces which are presented to the cut edges of the fabric and assure adequate heat transfer to the cut edges. The degree of divergence or spread of the fusing surfaces which are formed by the trailing portions of thesurfaces 62, 64 is selected in accordance with the tendency of the material to curl back or retract in relation to the line along which the material is severed by the cutting edge 66. Practical experience indicates that the cutting edge 66 should extend approximately l5 of the cutting and fusing path which in turn may occupy approximately 90 of the 180 wrap resulting from the arrangement of guide rollers 26, 28 relative to the cutting roller 20. Upon reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the cutting edge 66 presented to the material is of the order of .0015 inch, while the divergence for intimate heat-transfer requires a uniform taper to a trailing edge of approximately .008 inch. Upon consideration of these dimensions, it will be appreciated that this aspect of the invention required a realization of a problem relating to exceptionally small dimensional changes. The leading or end of the cutting and fusing path defined by the member 56 in cooperation with the roller 20, and indicated by the numeral 68, is cut away to facilitate entry of the material between the slitting edge and the cutting roller.

As an aid to maintaining the system at substantially thermal equilibrium and to avoid heat transfer to or from the roller and cutting assemblies, the cutting roller 20 is heated by the addition of an internal cartridge-type heater '70. As seen in Fig. 2, the cartridge 70 is introduced into the roller 20 through a hollow stub shaft 20a at one end of the cutting roller 20, the cartridge 70 being supported by a bracket 72 mounted on the side 14 of the frame 12.

Appropriate drive connections, such as pulleys 74, 76, may be provided for the cutting roller 20, and the takeup rollers 22, 24, as well as other components of the machine in accordance with practices well understood per se.

Apparatus embodying the several features of the present invention permit high speed operation heretofore unobtainable without the necessity of extreme caution, avoids improper fusing, and eliminates the necessity of operating at relatively high temperatures and/ or relative low speeds. Practical experience indicates that acetate and nylon base materials may be slit at rates approaching ninety yards per minute at temperatures easily sustained by the equipment components without prohibitive expansion and contraction. In the alternative, the spread may be reduced, if somewhat lowered operating temperatures are desirable.

What I claim is:

1. In a strip-cutting machine, a cutter-contacting roller, and a combined cutting and fusing member cooperating with said cutter-contacting roller, said member being curved to conform to said cutter-contacting roller and formed to include a leading cutting edge merging into trailing and divergent fusing surfaces.

2. In a strip-cutting machine, a roller, a combined cutting and fusing member curved to conform to said roller and formed to include a leading cutting edge merging into trailing and divergent fusing surfaces, and heating means in heat-transfer relation to said cutting and fusing member.

3. In fabric-slitting apparatus, a combined slitting and fusing member adapted to be biased into circumferential contact with a cooperating roller, said member being formed with an arcuate cutout terminating in a face conforming to said cooperating roller, and fabric-engaging surfaces merging into said face along meeting edges coinciding along a first arcuate traverse and defining slitting means, said meeting edges diverging along a second arcuate traverse and defining fusing surfaces continuously engageable with and in heat-transfer relation with edges of fabric leaving said slitting means.

4. In a strip-cutting apparatus, a heated roller, means in advance of a trailing said roller guiding a continuous Web of material into circumferential contact with said roller for substantially a wrap, a combined cutting and fusing member having a face circumferentially conforming to said roller and arranged to be coextensive with substantially the trailing half of said 180 wrap, and heating means in heat-transfer relation to said cutting and fusing member.

5. In fabric-slitting apparatus, a non-scoring roller having heating means, guide means cooperating with said roller and defining a circumferential feed path for bringing fabric into contact with said roller, a first run of said feed path providing for preheating of said fabric from said roller, a combined cutting and fusing member arranged along a second run of said feed path following said first run, said member being formed with a leading slitting edge and diverging and trailing fusing surfaces forming continuations of said slitting edge, and heating means in heattransfer relation with said member.

6. In a strip-cutting machine, a roller, and a combined and integral cutting and fusing member having a cutout of a curvature selected to conform to said roller, said member being formed with convergent surfaces extending radially outwardly from said cutout and arranged to define a leading cutting edge merging into trailing and divergent fusing surfaces.

'7. In a strip-cutting machine, a roller, a combined cutting and fusing member curved to conform to said roller and formed with convergent surfaces defining a leading cutting edge merging into trailing fusing surfaces, and heating means in heat-transfer relation to said cutting and fusing member.

8. In fabric-slitting apparatus, a combined slitting and fusing member movable into circumferential contact with a cooperating roller, said member being formed with an arcuate cutout providing a curved surface complementary to said cooperating roller, and fabric-engaging surfaces extending toward and merging with said curved surface along meeting edges coinciding along a first arcuate traverse and defining slitting means, said meeting edges diverging along a second arcuate traverse and defining fusing surfaces continuously engageable with and in heattransfer relation to edges of fabric leaving said slitting means.

9. In strip-cutting apparatus, a heated roller, means in advance of a trailing said roller guiding a continuous web of material into circumferential contact with said roller, a combined cutting and fusing member having a face circumferentially conforming to said roller, and heating means in heat-transfer relation to said combined cutting and fusing member.

10. In fabric-slitting apparatus, a non-scoring roller having heating means, guide means cooperating with said roller and defining a circumferential feed path for bringing fabric into contact with said roller, a first run of said feed path providing for preheating of said fabric from said roller, a combined cutting and fusing member arranged along a second run of said feed path following said first run, said member being formed with a leading slitting edge and trailing fusing surfaces, and heating means in heat-transfer relation with said member.

11. A combined slitting and fusing member for fabric slitting apparatus, said member being formed with a cutout terminating in an arcuate face, and fabric-engaging surfaces merging into said face along meeting edges coinciding along a first arcuate traverse of said face and defining slitting means, said meeting edges diverging along a second arcuate traverse of said face and defining fusing surfaces continuously engageable with and in heat-transfer relation with edges of fabric leaving said slitting means.

12. A combined slitting and fusing member adapted to be movable into circumferential contact with a coopcrating roller, said member being formed with an arcuate cutout providing a curved surface, and fabric-engaging surfaces extending toward and merging with said curved surface along meeting edges coinciding along a first arcuate traverse and defining slitting means, said meeting edges diverging along a second arcuate traverse and defining fusing. surfaces continuously engageable with and in heattransfer relation to edges of fabric leaving said slitting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,293,178 Stocker Aug. 18, 1942 2,623,586 Volpi Dec. 30, 1952 

